Not-At-All What You Thought Nebraska 2024 Group Tour Planner

THE OFFICIAL 2024 “NOT-AT-ALL-WHAT-YOU-THOUGHT” GROUP TOUR PLANNER

GROUP TOUR PLANNER 2024

CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

PLAN YOUR GROUP’S NEXT ADVENTURE

explore nebraska like the pioneers did.

okay, maybe not exactly like the pioneers did.

Our ancestors got their first glimpses of Nebraska from the rock-hard seats of buckboards, buggies, and Conestoga wagons. They also probably perspired heavily or froze half to death. Thanks to the modern-day motorcoach, today’s travelers enjoy distinct advantages. Luxurious comfort, for example. And by bringing them to Nebraska, you enjoy advantages, too. With everything from frontier trails and unspoiled nature to small-town charm and the lights of the big city, Nebraska has adventures galore. Let us help you plan your next one. Go to visitnebraska.com/group_travel

WELCOME

GROUP TOUR PLANNERS FAR FROM BEING “FLAT AND BORING WITH NOTHING EXCITING TO DO,” Nebraska offers thousands of groupfriendly destinations, attractions, events and activities across its 77,000 square miles within the Great Plains Region in the central United States. In this planner, you will find a few examples to get your ideas flowing for new itineraries for your clients. As you look through this group tour planner and need more information or assistance, please contact the Group Tour Manager with the Nebraska Tourism Commission or visit our website: visitnebraska.com/group_travel Nebraska Tourism Group Tour Manager Micheal Collins (CTIS) micheal.collins@nebraska.gov SANDHILL CRANES

402-432-1384

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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CONTENTS

HELPFUL RESOURCES

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6 GROUP TOUR ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES

3

Getting Here & Getting Around

8

Buffalo Bill’s Rails & Trails West

16

The World’s Breadbasket: An Agricultural Tour through Nebraska

4

Nebraska at a Glance Fun Facts

10

Buffalo, Bones and Books: Traveling the Fossil Freeway

18

Eastern Nebraska Encounters

5

Visitor Centers & Driving Distances

12

Buffett, Birds and Beef: The Great Platte River Road

14

Cosmopolitan to Cowboys: Omaha to Kimball

2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

20 Spiritual Escapes 22 Nebraska’s Missouri River Valley and Capital City 24 Nebraska’s Six Degrees of Separation

GETTING HERE & GETTING AROUND

ROWE SANCTUARY

CHARTER COMPANIES

GROUP OPERATORS

Arrow Stagelines www.arrowstagelines.com

Corporate Office (Norfolk) 402-371-3850, 800-672-8302

Allied Tour & Travel www.alliedtt.com Norfolk 402-371-3840, 800-672-1009

Grand Island Office 308-382-3036 Lincoln Office 402-475-9229

Elite Tours www.elitetours.us Omaha 800-488-2114

Omaha Office 402-731-1900, 800-731-0727

Moostash Joe Tours www.mjtours.com Fremont 800-806-7944

Holiday Express Bus www.holidayexpressbus.com Grand Island 308-384-1800, 800-652-1950 Navigator Motorcoaches www.navigatorbus.com Norfolk 402-371-1202, 800-634-8696 Windstar Lines www.gowindstar.com Lincoln 402-467-2900

Travel Cat Tours www.travelcattours.com Omaha 531-777-2124 Travel with Barb www.travelwithbarb.com Omaha 402-614-9793

AIRPORTS Grand Island Central Nebraska Regional Airport www.flygrandisland.com Kearney Regional Airport www.flykearney.com Lincoln Airport www.lincolnairport.com North Platte Regional Airport www.northplatteairport.com Omaha Eppley Airfield www.flyoma.com

SNAP THIS CODE for more on NE Group Travel!

Scottsbluff Western Nebraska Regional Airport www.flyscottsbluff.com

26 HUB & SPOKE TOURS 27 Nebraska’s Central Flyway: The Great Sandhill Crane Migration 28 Grand Island: South Central Adventures 30 Omaha: Nebraska’s City Centers 34 North Platte: Explore Southwest Nebraska

36 Kearney: Choose Your Adventure 38 Lincoln: The State Capital 40 Gering: Discover Northwest Nebraska 42 Norfolk: Experience Northeast Nebraska

Check us out online for more info /VisitNebraska

/VisitNebraska

@Visit_Nebraska

/NebraskaTourism

@NebraskaTourism

VisitNebraska.com

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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FUN FACTS

Topography

Located in the Great Plains region of the United States, Nebraska is bordered by South Dakota on the north, Iowa and Missouri on the east, Kansas on the south, and Colorado and Wyoming on the west. Eastern Nebraska is covered with rugged bluffs, rolling hills and picturesque valleys. The Great Plains stretch westward across 75 percent of the state, featuring rock formations, eroded hills and deep canyons. The Sandhills, North America’s largest grass-stabilized sand dune formation, cover sections of western and central Nebraska and include the Nebraska National Forest, the world’s largest handplanted forest. The High Plains are to the west of the Sandhills. Within this 12,000-square-mile (31,080 sq. km) area, you’ll find the Wildcat Hills, the Pine Ridge and the North Platte River Valley. A small portion of South Dakota’s Badlands also extends into northwest Nebraska.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

Time Zones

Nebraska spans two time zones. The eastern two-thirds of the state is in the Central Time Zone and the western third is in the Mountain Time Zone. When traveling on Interstate 80, the time change occurs between the Sutherland and Paxton exits.

Population & Five Largest Cities

In 2023, Nebraska had a population of 1.96 million residents, making it the 37th largest state in the U.S. by population. Nebraska is predominantly a rural state, with the majority of its communities having populations less than 5,000. The state’s smallest incorporated town is Monowi (pop. 1) in north central Nebraska. The five largest cities by population are: Omaha (pop: 479, 655), Lincoln (pop: 295,222), Bellevue (pop: 62,624), Grand Island (pop: 51,138) and Kearney (pop: 34,414).

VISITOR CENTERS & DRIVING DISTANCES Nebraska Visitor Centers

CARHENGE

Alliance www.visitalliance.com

Lincoln www.lincoln.org

Beatrice www.visitbeatrice.com

McCook www.visitmccook.com

Brownville/Nemaha County www.enjoynemahacounty.org

Nebraska City www.nebraskacity.com

Chadron/Northwest Nebraska www.discovernwnebraska.com

Norfolk www.visitnorfolkne.com

Cass County www.visitcasscounty.com

North Platte www.visitnorthplatte.com

Columbus www.visitcolumbusne.com

Ogallala/Keith County www.explorekeithcounty.com

Fremont www.visitfremontne.org

Omaha www.visitomaha.com

Gering www.visitgering.com

Sarpy County www.gosarpy.com

Grand Island www.visitgrandisland.com

Scotts Bluff County www.visitscottsbluff.com

Hastings www.visithastingsnebraska.com

Seward www.sewardnebraskatourism.org

Kearney www.visitkearney.org

Sidney www.visitsidneyne.com

Kimball County www.visitkimball.com

South Sioux City www.visitsouthsiouxcity.com

Knox County www.knoxcountynebraska.com

York www.yorkvisitors.org

IN-STATE DRIVING DISTANCES AND TIMES Seasons

Nebraska offers a full fourseason climate. The normal average daily temperatures range from -20˚F (-7˚C) in the winter to more than 75˚F (24˚C) in the summer. Annual precipitation ranges from more than 30” (762 mm) in the southeast to less than 17” (432 mm) in western Nebraska.

Location

Nebraska’s central location positions it within a 3- to 8-hour drive from surrounding major cities, including Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and St. Louis.

Omaha to:

Miles

Drive Time

Scottsbluff to:

Miles

Drive Time

Alliance Beatrice Chadron Columbus Grand Island Hastings Kearney Lincoln McCook Nebraska City Norfolk North Platte Scottsbluff Ogallala South Sioux City Valentine

423 100 436 87 153 161 186 57 289 51 113 280 475 330 96 298

6:40 1:45 7:30 1:40 2:20 2:30 2:45 1:00 4:20 1:00 2:10 4:00 7:00 4:40 1:30 5:15

Alliance Beatrice Chadron Columbus Grand Island Hastings Kearney Lincoln McCook Nebraska City Norfolk North Platte Ogallala Omaha South Sioux City Valentine

54 455 106 402 338 346 292 421 262 467 418 195 145 475 455 221

1:00 7:00 1:45 6:15 5:00 5:15 4:00 6:00 4:00 7:00 6:50 3:00 2:20 7:00 7:45 3:45

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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GROUP TOUR

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES NEBRASKA MIGHT NOT BE THE FIRST DESTINATION THAT COMES TO MIND, BUT WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF YOUR GROUP TRAVELS HERE, YOU’VE GOT A PRETTY SPECIAL TRIP AHEAD OF YOU.

Our state has some amazing group tour destinations, and in this guide, you’ll find a sampling of some of our favorite attractions and highlights. We’ve put together nine itineraries spanning the state, from the cosmopolitan buzz of Omaha and Lincoln and the rolling hills of eastern Nebraska to the great sandhill crane migration in central Nebraska and the Old West and early pioneer history of the state’s western corners. Each itinerary is designed to show you a different part of the state and give your clients memories they’ll cherish for years to come.

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

BREWERS CANOERS & TUBERS

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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BUFFALO BILL’S RAILS & TRAILS WEST TO EXPERIENCE WESTERN NEBRASKA IS TO EXPERIENCE THE OLD WEST. This is a land filled with history and culture, from the Native American tribes who first settled this wild region to fur traders and trappers looking for fortune to early pioneers searching for a better way of life out west to farmers and ranchers who carved out an existence in this wild and rough landscape. Hear their exciting stories and tales as you explore and experience western Nebraska.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: BUFFALO BILL’S RAILS & TRAILS WEST

WILDCAT HILLS NATURE AREA

DAY 1: NORTH PLATTE  Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center  Grain Bin Antique Town  Fort Cody Trading Post  Cody Park Railroad Museum  Dusty Trails  “Ride with the Wild Bunch”

DAY 2: NORTH PLATTE, OGALLALA, SIDNEY  Double Dips Ice Creamery  Mansion on the Hill  Petrified Wood Gallery  Front Street and Cowboy Museum  Sidney Post Commander’s Home  Camp Lookout

FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK

 Sidney’s Boot Hill Cemetery  Lazy S Ranch

DAY 3: POTTER, KIMBALL  Dude’s Steakhouse  Potter Art Loft

DAY 4: GERING, BAYARD  Scotts Bluff National Monument  Wildcat Hills Nature Center  Chimney Rock National Historic Site  Legacy of the Plains

 A Collective Gathering  Duckpin Bowling Alley  Potter Sundry  EJE Ranch

DAY 5: HARRISON, CRAWFORD

 Rocky Hollow Buffalo Company

 Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

 Steel Grill

 Fort Robinson State Park

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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BUFFALO, BONES AND BOOKS:

TRAVELING THE FOSSIL FREEWAY TAKE THE FOSSIL FREEWAY FOR A SCENIC DRIVE BETWEEN COLORADO’S FRONT RANGE to South Dakota’s Black Hills through western Nebraska. While exploring this highway corridor connecting the region’s rich fossil history, hand-feed bison, explore a natural shortgrass prairie setting and take in stunning views of the Oregon Trail and North Platte River Valley. This route also takes visitors to the remote, windswept High Plains region and Oglala National Grasslands of northwest Nebraska. Become immersed in one of the world’s most significant Miocene Epoch mammal fossil sites and gain a greater understanding of the area’s Native American roots.

You’ll hear the many stories and tales of early pioneer and settler life in this tough landscape.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: BUFFALO, BONES AND BOOKS

HUDSON-MENG EDUCATION & RESEARCH CENTER

DAY 1: KIMBALL COUNTY  EJE Ranch  Rocky Hollow Buffalo Company  Steel Grill

DAY 2: GERING, BAYARD  Scotts Bluff National Monument  Wildcat Hills Nature Center  Chimney Rock National Historic Site  Legacy of the Plains

DAY 3: HARRISON, CRAWFORD, CHADRON  Agate Fossil Beds National Monument  Fort Robinson State Park  Hudson-Meng Education & Research Center  Museum of the Fur Trade  Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center

MARI SANDOZ HIGH PLAINS HERITAGE CENTER

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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BUFFETT, BIRDS AND BEEF:

THE GREAT PLATTE RIVER ROAD START THE TOUR IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA’S LARGEST CITY AND HOME OF BUSINESS magnate, investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha.” Stop by Buffett’s favorite stomping grounds and hangouts. After sightseeing, get ready for birding in Lincoln, followed by the Central Flyway. During the annual spring migration, you will meet face-toface with roughly one million sandhill cranes that roost in this part of the Platte River.

Guided sunset and sunrise tours give visitors different perspectives of these majestic birds, also known as living dinosaurs. For a taste of agritourism, venture to North Platte to learn where Nebraska’s beef comes from and how it’s processed, followed by a feast of five delicious cuts to sample yourself.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

DUSTY TRAILS

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: BUFFETT, BIRDS AND BEEF

DAY 1: OMAHA, BELLEVUE  Warren Buffett Driving Tour  Fontenelle Forest  eCreamery  Gorat’s Steakhouse

DAY 2: OMAHA, LINCOLN  Lithuanian Bakery & Café  Nebraska Furniture Mart  The Rose Theatre  Omaha Community Playhouse  The Green Gateau

DAY 3: LINCOLN, GRAND ISLAND

THE ARCHWAY

 Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center  Historic Haymarket District  Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill

DAY 5:

 1937 Art-Deco Grand Theatre

KEARNEY, NORTH PLATTE

 Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center

 Rowe Sanctuary  The Archway

DAY 4: GRAND ISLAND, HOLDREGE

 Lincoln County Historical Museum  Buffalo Bill State Historical Park  “Here’s the Beef”Tour

 The Chocolate Bar  Studio K Art Gallery  Raising Nebraska

DAY 6:

 Stuhr Museum

NORTH PLATTE

 Phelps County Feeders

 Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center

 Nebraska Star Beef

 Fort Cody Trading Post

 The Speakeasy

 Dusty Trails

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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COSMOPOLITAN TO COWBOYS: OMAHA TO KIMBALL

THIS ITINERARY FOLLOWS THE PATH OF THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST along one of the nation’s busiest migration and transportation routes, the Great Platte River Road. Today, Interstate 80 follows this route, taking travelers through diverse landscapes and terrains. The cosmopolitan urban centers of Omaha and Lincoln in eastern Nebraska, the fertile farmlands and migratory birding paths of central Nebraska and the Central Flyway and the wide-open and sprawling vistas of western Nebraska make up this exciting land of contrasts.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

FORT CODY TRADING POST

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: COSMOPOLITAN TO COWBOYS

DURHAM MUSEUM

DAY 1:

DAY 4:

OMAHA

GRAND ISLAND, KEARNEY

 Omaha Guided City Tour

 Zabuni Coffee

 Durham Museum

 Raising Nebraska

 St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

 Stuhr Museum

 Lithuanian Bakery & Café

 The Archway

 Father Flanagan’s Boys Town

 Classic Car Collection

 German American Society

 Alley Rose

DAY 2:

DAY 5:

ASHLAND, GREENWOOD, LINCOLN

NORTH PLATTE

 Strategic Air Command

 Double Dips Ice Creamery

and Aerospace Museum

 Baker’s Candies  Nebraska State Capitol  Larsen Tractor Test Museum  UNL Dairy Store  International Quilt Study Center & Museum  Screamers Dining & Cabaret

DAY 3: LINCOLN, YORK, HENDERSON  Museum of American Speed

 Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center  Cody Park Railroad Museum  Grain Bin Antique Town  Fort Cody Trading Post  “Ride with the Wild Bunch”

STUHR MUSEUM

 “Wine with the Stars” Tour

DAY 6: OGALLALA, PAXTON  Lake McConaughy Visitor

& Water Interpretive Center

 Clayton Museum of Ancient History

 Mansion on the Hill

 Chances “R” Restaurant and Lounge

 Petrified Wood Gallery

 Wessels Living History Farm

 Front Street and Cowboy Museum

 Mennonite Heritage Park

 Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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THE WORLD’S BREADBASKET:

AN AGRICULTURAL TOUR THROUGH NEBRASKA EVEN THOUGH NEBRASKA BOASTS TWO MAJOR URBAN METROPOLITAN AREAS, it remains a true agricultural and rural state.

Center-pivot irrigation was invented in Nebraska, and this unique type of irrigation system provides the much-needed moisture to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland that make Nebraska the “Breadbasket to the World.” Nebraska’s agricultural roots run deep, and on this itinerary, we’ll cross the state from Omaha to Kimball, visiting many of its agricultural businesses, attractions and farm-to-table restaurants.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

MORMON TRAIL CENTER AT WINTER QUARTERS

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: THE WORLD’S BREADBASKET

NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

DAY 1: OMAHA

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER & MUSEUM

 Florence Mill  Mormon Trail Center  Durham Museum  Father Flanagan’s Boys Town  German American Society

DAY 2: NEBRASKA CITY, NEHAWKA

DAY 5:

 Kregel Windmill Factory Museum

HOLDREGE

 Arbor Lodge State Historical Park

 Phelps County Feeders

 Arbor Day Farm

 Nebraska Star Beef

 Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard

 Catrina’s Mexican Cuisine

 Slattery Vintage Estates

 Nebraska Prairie Museum

 Petrified Wood Gallery

 The Speakeasy

 Front Street and Cowboy Museum

DAY 3:

DAY 8: OGALLALA, GERING

 Scotts Bluff National Monument

LINCOLN

DAY 6:

 Legacy of the Plains Museum

 International Quilt Study Center & Museum

KEARNEY, NORTH PLATTE

 Larsen Tractor Test Museum

 The Archway

DAY 9:

 Nebraska State Capitol

 Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center

 Valhalla Bee Farm

 Dusty Trails

 Rocky Hollow Buffalo Company

 Polinator Flyway Walking Tour

 “Here’s the Beef” Tour

 EJE Ranch

KIMBALL

 Sleepy Bee Lavender Farm

DAY 4: YORK, GRAND ISLAND, HASTINGS

DAY 7: NORTH PLATTE  Double Dips Ice Creamery

 Wessels Living History Farm

 Grain Bin Antique Town

 Mennonite Heritage Park

 Miller Farms

 Stuhr Museum

 Fort Cody Trading Post

 Raising Nebraska

 “Ride with the Wild Bunch”

 Prairie Loft Center

 “Wine with the Stars” Tour

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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EASTERN NEBRASKA

ENCOUNTERS JUST WEST OF THE MIGHTY MISSOURI RIVER, EASTERN NEBRASKA IS CHOCK-FULL OF exciting group-friendly destinations to delight any adventurer. From the cosmopolitan buzz of Omaha and Lincoln to the wide-open spaces of northeast and southeast Nebraska, this journey will show visitors why this region of Nebraska is truly an untapped destination for any size or type of group.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: EASTERN NEBRASKA ENCOUNTERS

ARBOR DAY FARM

DAY 1: OMAHA  St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church  Durham Museum  Father Flanagan’s Boys Town  German American Society

DAY 2: OMAHA, TEKAMAH, STANTON, NORFOLK  Hot Shops Art Center  Joslyn Castle  Master’s Hand Candles  Red Road Herbs  Elkhorn Valley Museum  Johnny Carson’s Boyhood Home  Black Cow Fat Pig

DAY 3: CRESTON, COLUMBUS, GENOA, YORK  Larson Dairy Farm  Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial  Genoa Indian School  Wessels Living History Farm  Chances “R” Restaurant and Lounge

DAY 4: LINCOLN  Robber’s Cave  Nebraska State Capitol  Larsen Tractor Test Museum  International Quilt Study Center & Museum  Museum of American Speed  Screamers Dining & Cabaret

DAY 5: BEATRICE, NEBRASKA CITY  Homestead National Historical Park  Arbor Day Farm

HOT SHOPS ART CENTER

 Arbor Lodge State Historical Park  Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard

DAY 6: ASHLAND, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION  Strategic Air Command and

Aerospace Museum

 Czech and Slovak Educational

Centre and Cultural Museum

 Polish Heritage Society of Nebraska

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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WESSELS LIVING HISTORY FARM

SPIRITUAL

ESCAPES NEBRASKA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL DEVOTION among its residents, always welcoming different belief systems and rituals. This itinerary takes us on an educational journey meant to inspire and encourage reflection and peace. Explore the tenets and guiding principles found in many of today’s religions.

Visitors can view impressive stained-glass collections, follow along the Stations of the Cross, go behind the scenes to view centuriesold quilts, try Greek dancing or place prayers in a replica of Jerusalem’s Western Wall. To round out the escape, a relaxing airboat ride down the Platte River will remind visitors that we are all one with nature.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: SPIRITUAL ESCAPES

RIVER LIFE AIRBOAT TOURS

DAY 1: OMAHA  Lithuanian Bakery & Café  Joslyn Castle  St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church  St. Cecilia’s Cathedral  Brother Sebastian’s Steak House & Winery  Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Sweat Lodge &

Traditional Healing

DAY 2: OMAHA  Bagel Bin

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE

DAY 4: LINCOLN, HENDERSON, YORK

 Riekes Museum

 The Mill Coffee & Tea

 Hindu Temple

 Union College Seventh Day Adventist Church

 Father Flanagan’s Boys Town

 Art Glass Creative Studio

 Tri-Faith Initiative

 Vibrational Sound Association

 German American Society

 Clayton Museum of Ancient History  Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park

DAY 3:

 Wessels Living History Farm

BELLEVUE, GRETNA, ASHLAND, GREENWOOD, LINCOLN

DAY 5:

 Offutt Air Force Base  Holy Family Shrine  Cloisters on the Platte

LINCOLN, SEWARD, SCHUYLER, FREMONT  Linh Quang Buddhist Center  Saint Gregory the Great Seminary

 Carol Joy Holling Retreat

 Café on the Square

 Bakers Candies

 Saint Benedict Center

& Conference Center

 International Quilt Study Center & Museum

 The Center for Liturgical Art  River Life Airboat Tours

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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NEBRASKA’S

MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY AND CAPITAL CITY FORMING NEBRASKA’S EASTERN BORDER, THE MISSOURI RIVER IS ONE OF THE nation’s great rivers and has helped shape and grow the Great Plains region over the years.

This itinerary follows alongside the mighty Missouri River through Brownville to Nebraska City, Omaha and the Winnebago Nation before finishing near the Siouxland region of South Sioux City. Enjoy delicious homemade fare, unique cultural immersions, top-notch entertainment, an insightful look into our nation’s national security and examples of responsible environmental stewardship.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER & MUSEUM

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: NEBRASKA’S MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY AND CAPITAL CITY

THE LYCEUM

DAY 1: BROWNVILLE  Historic Downtown Brownville  The Lyceum  Flatwater Folk Art Museum  Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard & Winery  Spirit of Brownville

DAY 2: NEBRASKA CITY, PAPILLION  Arbor Lodge State Historical Park  Arbor Day Farm  Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard  Missouri River Basin Lewis &

Clark Visitor Center

 Polish Heritage Society of Nebraska

DAY 3: BELLEVUE, OMAHA  Czech and Slovak Educational

JOSLYN CASTLE CASEYGUISE

DAY 4: OMAHA, ASHLAND, GREENWOOD, LINCOLN  Father Flanagan’s Boys Town  Strategic Air Command

and Aerospace Museum

 Baker’s Candies  Nebraska State Capitol  International Quilt Study Center & Museum  Screamers Dining & Cabaret

DAY 5:

 Fontenelle Forest

OMAHA, TEKAMAH, WINNEBAGO NATION, SOUTH SIOUX CITY

 St. John Greek Orthodox Church

 Joslyn Castle

 Hot Shops Art Center

 Master’s Hand Candle Company & Gift Shop

 Durham Museum

 Angel DeCora Museum & Research Center

 German American Society

 Siouxland Freedom Park

Centre and Cultural Museum

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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NEBRASKA’S

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION THEY SAY WE’RE ONLY SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY SIX HANDSHAKES. See how connected you may be to some of our state’s most famous locals, both past and present. On this trail, you will discover how the actions of great Nebraska business leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, politicians, filmmakers, entertainers and visionaries helped to guide and shape the state. Explore Warren Buffett’s stomping grounds, learn how celebrity Johnny Carson was shaped by his Nebraskan upbringing, walk in the footsteps of Husker Football legend Tom Osborne at UNL Memorial Stadium and tour the home of Arbor Day founder and Nebraska visionary J. Sterling Morton.

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND & AEROSPACE MUSEUM

ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES: NEBRASKA’S SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

JOHNNY CARSON MURAL

DAY 1: OMAHA  Warren Buffett Driving Tour  Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering  Omaha Community Playhouse  Father Flanagan’s Boys Town  Gorat’s Steakhouse

DAY 2: NEBRASKA CITY, BURCHARD  Arbor Lodge State Historical Park  Arbor Day Farm  Missouri River Basin Lewis

& Clark Visitor Center

 Harold Lloyd Home

DAY 3:

ARBOR DAY FARM

ASHLAND, ELMWOOD, LINCOLN

DAY 4:

 Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

NORFOLK, BANCROFT

 Bess Streeter Aldrich House and Museum

 Elkhorn Valley Museum & Research Center

 Nebraska State Capitol

 Johnny Carson Mural

 Nebraska Governor’s Mansion

 Black Cow Fat Pig

 Nebraska Huskers Memorial Stadium

 Johnny Carson’s Boyhood Home

 Billy’s Restaurant

 John G. Neihardt State Historic Site

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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HUB & SPOKE

TOURS

Drop your bags and belongings off at the hotel and go explore everything Nebraska has to offer. The following eight itineraries feature short, drivable day trips to surrounding attractions — perfect for tour groups that prefer to remain in one overnight location. Most of these itineraries are three to four days, but can be combined to create remarkable tours filled with a variety of unique Nebraska destinations, from history museums and nature centers to pioneer sites and must-try local eateries.

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itineraries!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: NEBRASKA’S CENTRAL FLYWAY

NEBRASKA’S CENTRAL FLYWAY:

THE GREAT SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION

SPEND TIME EXPLORING NEBRASKA’S CENTRAL FLYWAY, home to the great sandhill crane migration. Here you’ll discover cultural and heritage museums, wild west experiences and unrivaled birding opportunities.

DAY 1:

DAY 3:

KEARNEY

GRAND ISLAND, HASTINGS

 The Archway

 Zabuni Coffee

 Classic Car Collection

 Raising Nebraska

 Alley Rose

 Stuhr Museum

 Rowe Sanctuary

 Hastings Museum

(evening crane viewing)

DAY 2: NORTH PLATTE  Golden Spike Tower

& Visitor Center

 The Cedar Room

 Odyssey Downtown

DAY 4: ALDA  Crane Trust Nature

& Visitor Center (morning crane viewing)

 Dusty Trails

(afternoon crane viewing)

 “Ride with the Wild Bunch”

SANDHILL CRANES

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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HUB & SPOKE TOURS: GRAND ISLAND

GRAND ISLAND: NEBRASKA’S CENTRAL FLYWAY:

SOUTH CENTRAL ADVENTURES THE GREAT SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA IS CHOCK-FULL SPEND TIME EXPLORING NEBRASKA’S OF HISTORY! Day-trip yourtoway Grand CENTRAL FLYWAY, home the around great sandhill Island and its surrounding to see a living crane migration.

Here you’llcities discover cultural history farm, museums, Native American artifacts and a and heritage wild west experiences collection of unique and unrivaled birdingmuseums. opportunities.

DAY 1:

DAY 3:

GRAND ISLAND

AURORA, YORK, HENDERSON

 Zabuni Coffee  Raising Nebraska  Stuhr Museum  Crane Trust Nature

& Visitor Center

 Edgerton Explorit Center  Plainsman Museum  Chances “R”

Restaurant and Lounge

 Clayton Museum of

Ancient History

DAY 2: KEARNEY, HASTINGS  Sweetwater Hemp Company  Classic Car Collection

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

DAY 4: HOLDREGE

 The Archway

 Phelps County Feeders

 Bigfoot Crossroads of

 Nebraska Star Beef

 Hastings Museum

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

 Henderson Mennonite Village

 Museum of Nebraska Art

America Museum

THE ARCHWAY

 Wessels Living History Farm

 Nebraska Prairie Museum  Funk Peterson Wildlife Trail  Lost Way Brewery  The Speakeasy

DAY 5: BURWELL  Calamus Outfitters  Sandhills Ranch Habitat Ecotour

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: OMAHA

OMAHA:

NEBRASKA’S CITY CENTERS NEBRASKA’S LARGEST CITY is home to all sorts of can’t-miss experiences. As you explore Omaha and the surrounding area, you’ll discover the rich heritage and culture of the region.

DAY 1: OMAHA  Omaha Guided City Tour  St. John the Baptist Greek

Orthodox Church

 Joslyn Castle  Father Flanagan’s Boys Town  German American Society

DAY 2: OMAHA, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION  Hot Shops Art Center  Durham Museum  Old Market  Fontenelle Forest JOSLYN CASTLE

 Czech and Slovak Educational

Centre and Cultural Museum

 Polish Heritage

Society of Nebraska

DAY 3: NEBRASKA CITY, NEHAWKA  Arbor Lodge State

Historical Park

 Arbor Day Farm  Lied Lodge & Conference Center  Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard  Missouri River Basin

Lewis & Clark Visitor Center

 Kregel Windmill Factory Museum  Slattery Vintage Estates

DAY 4: ASHLAND, GREENWOOD, LINCOLN, SOUTH BEND  Strategic Air Command

and Aerospace Museum

 Baker’s Candies  Historic Haymarket District  Nebraska State Capitol  Larsen Tractor Test Museum

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

 UNL Dairy Store  International Quilt

Study Center & Museum

 Round the Bend Steakhouse

ROLL INTO OMAHA AND BE PREPARED FOR NEW MEMORIES TO COME AT YOU...

GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIETY

OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

BOYS TOWN

THE DURHAM MUSEUM

LAURITZEN GARDENS

BIG MAMA’S KITCHEN

OUT OF THE PARK where crowds jubilant and loud watch victorsJOSLYN be crowned.

CASTLE

OUT OF THE WILD where you find your inner child at worldGREEK famousORTHODOX zoo.

ST.our JOHN’S CHURCH

OUT OF THE MEANINGFUL PLACES where history was born and diversityHOT grew.SHOPS ART CENTER

EXPLORE THE WORLD’S BEST ZOO, EXPERIENCE HISTORY, TASTE FLAVORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE, WALK IN A BILLIONAIRE’S FOOTSTEPS, AND FEEL THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WHILE STROLLING UNDER MILLIONS OF TWINKLING LIGHTS. Contact: Jessica Settje · jsettje@visitomaha.com · 402-444-1760 · visitomaha.com/meetings/group-tour-planners/

DISCOVER

the Village of Boys Town!

A True American Treasure

T

here’s a square mile in Nebraska where miracles of the heart happen every day. It’s a community of caring where kids are saved, families are healed and despair and darkness are conquered by the promise of a brighter future.

YOUR GROUP TOUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:

» »

Step-on Certified Guides Low Group Pricing with Comps Provided

At the Village of Boys Town, we welcome more than 100,000 visitors from across the United States every year. Be our guest and experience Father Flanagan’s vision for changing the way America cares for children, families and communities at world-famous Boys Town today!

» » »

No Reservation Fees

Whether Omaha is your travel destination or a just a stopover, be sure to make the Village of Boys Town part of your itinerary!

»

Optional On-site Dining

Historic Father Flanagan House

World's Largest Ball of Stamps

Hall of History Museum

Dowd Chapel

We’re closer than you think!

Chicago: 479 miles Minneapolis: 392 miles Denver: 532 miles Kansas City: 196 miles

Customized Itineraries Gift Shop with Unique Gifts and Souvenirs

For help with planning a tour, call 800-625-1400. Or visit us at boystown.org/tours for more information. #boystownvillage |

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner 2201-064-02L

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: NORTH PLATTE

NORTH PLATTE:

EXPLORE SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA HEAD TO NORTH PLATTE and trek the state’s Southwest region for cowboy reenactments, pioneer and railroad history tours and sips from local vineyards and breweries.

DAY 1:

DAY 3:

NORTH PLATTE

HOLDREGE

 Golden Spike Tower

 Phelps County Feeders

& Visitor Center

 Cody Park Railroad Museum  Pals Brewing Company  Grain Bin Antique Town  Fort Cody Trading Post  “Here’s the Beef” Tour  “Wine with the Stars” Tour

DAY 2: OGALLALA, PAXTON  Double Dips Ice Creamery  Lake McConaughy Visitor &

Water Interpretive Center

 Front Street and

Cowboy Museum

NEBRASKA PRAIRIE MUSEUM

 Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

 Catrina’s Mexican Cuisine  Nebraska Prairie Museum  Funk Peterson Wildlife Trail  Lost Way Brewery  The Speakeasy

DAY 4: KEARNEY, NORTH PLATTE  Sweetwater Hemp Company  Classic Car Collection  Museum of Nebraska Art  The Archway  “Ride with the Wild Bunch”

 Petrified Wood Gallery  Mansion on the Hill

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

 Nebraska Star Beef

DAY 5: NORTH PLATTE  Dusty Trails  The Cedar Room

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: KEARNEY

KEARNEY:

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE THIS REGION HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. With Kearney as your base, take advantage of the wide-ranging attractions of South Central Nebraska, from museums on the pioneers to the search for Bigfoot.

DAY 1:

DAY 4:

HOLDREGE

HASTINGS, RED CLOUD

 Phelps County Feeders

 Bigfoot Crossroads of

 Nebraska Star Beef  Catrina’s Mexican Cuisine  Nebraska Prairie Museum  Funk Peterson Wildlife Trail  Lost Way Brewery  The Speakeasy

DAY 2: KEARNEY  Sweetwater Hemp Company  Classic Car Collection  The Archway  Museum of Nebraska Art NATIONAL WILLA CATHER CENTER

DAY 3: GRAND ISLAND  Zabuni Coffee

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

 Raising Nebraska  Stuhr Museum  Crane Trust Nature &

Visitor Center

America Museum

 Hastings Museum  Prairie Loft Center  Willa Cather Foundation Tours  National Willa Cather Center  Red Cloud Opera House

DAY 5: NORTH PLATTE  Golden Spike Tower

& Visitor Center

 Cody Park Railroad Museum  “Ride with the Wild Bunch”  Double Dips Ice Creamery  Fort Cody Trading Post

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: LINCOLN

LINCOLN:

THE STATE CAPITAL CAPITOL BUILDING TOURS, riverboat cruises and eclectic museum experiences — this tour of Southeast Nebraska centered around Lincoln is jam-packed with exciting attractions your group will love.

DAY 1:

DAY 3:

LINCOLN

BEATRICE, BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA CITY

 Nebraska State Capitol  Larsen Tractor Test Museum  UNL Dairy Store  International Quilt

Study Center & Museum

 Screamer’s Dining & Cabaret

 Homestead National

Historical Park

 Flatwater Folk Art Museum  Spirit of Brownville  Whiskey Run Creek

Winery & Distillery

DAY 2:

 Arbor Lodge State

LINCOLN, SEWARD, YORK COUNTY

 Arbor Day Farm

 Museum of American Speed  Junto Wine  Nebraska National

 Clayton Museum of

 Baker’s Candies

Ancient History

 Chances “R”

Restaurant and Lounge

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

DAY 4:

 Mennonite Heritage Park

 Wessels Living History Farm

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

 Lied Lodge & Conference Center

GREENWOOD, ASHLAND, BELLEVUE, PAPILLION

Guard Museum

ARBOR DAY FARM

Historical Park

 Strategic Air Command

and Aerospace Museum

 Fontenelle Forest  Czech and Slovak Educational

Centre and Cultural Museum

 Polish Heritage

Society of Nebraska

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: GERING

GERING:

DISCOVER NORTHWEST NEBRASKA HEAD WEST FOR NATURE ESCAPES, ranch experiences and jaw-dropping natural attractions. Based in Gering, this trip will show your group the legacy of the pioneers and the state’s early settlers.

DAY 1:

DAY 3:

GERING, ALLIANCE

GERING, KIMBALL

 Carhenge  Knight Museum and

Sandhills Center

 Lunch in Alliance  Dobby’s Frontier Town  Legacy of the Plains Museum

DAY 2: HARRISON, CRAWFORD CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

 Agate Fossil Beds

National Monument

 Fort Robinson State Park

 Scotts Bluff National Monument  Wildcat Hills Nature Center  Rocky Hollow Buffalo Company  EJE Ranch  Steel Grill

DAY 4: GERING, BAYARD, POTTER, SIDNEY  Chimney Rock National

Historic Site

 Potter’s Historic

Duckpin Bowling Alley

 Potter Sundry  Chuckaboo Station  Fort Sidney Museum and

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

Post Commander’s Home

 Camp Lookout  Sidney’s Boot Hill Cemetery  Dude’s Steakhouse

HUB & SPOKE TOURS: NORFOLK

NORFOLK:

EXPERIENCE NORTHEAST NEBRASKA THIS NORTHEASTERN ITINERARY leads you to Norfolk, where you’ll venture to Johnny Carson’s old stomping grounds, along with Native American heritage sites, arts and nature centers and more.

DAY 1:

DAY 4:

NORFOLK  Elkhorn Valley Museum

NIOBRARA, PONCA NATION, SANTEE SIOUX NATION

 Johnny Carson Mural

 Ohiya Casino and Resort

 Johnny Carson’s Boyhood Home

 Santee Sioux Nation

 Black Cow Fat Pig

 Chief Standing Bear Bridge

 Norfolk Arts Center

DAY 2: STANTON, CRESTON, COLUMBUS, MONROE, GENOA  Red Road Herbs  Larson Dairy Farm  Horn T Zoo  Genoa Indian School  Dusters and Gottberg Brew Pub CHIEF STANDING BEAR BRIDGE

DAY 3: CROFTON, HARTINGTON, FORDYCE, NIOBRARA

SNAP THIS CODE FOR the full trip itinerary!

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

 Lewis and Clark Pulley Museum  Nissen Winery  WJ Ranch

(scenic view/photo op)

 Northern Ponca

Tribe of Nebraska

 Miller Farm

DAY 5: NIOBRARA, VERDIGRE, ROYAL  Niobrara State Park  Kolach Capital of

the World: Verdigre

 Ashfall Fossil Beds

State Historical Park

Find out more at VisitNebraska.com

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PLATTE RIVER

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2024 Nebraska Group Tour Planner

Don’t “reinvent the wheel.”

LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT EXCITING AND FUN-FILLED NEBRASKA GROUP TOUR ITINERARY!

Nebraska Tourism Group Tour Manager Micheal Collins (CTIS) micheal.collins@nebraska.gov 402-432-1384

NATIONAL GROUP AFFILIATIONS

T R AV E L A L L I A N C E PA R T N E R S ®